Old Mural Removal
 

Ok - here is a sticky situation. About 13-14 years ago I did a mural for a Wal-Mart in Corpus Christi, TX. That is where I am moving back to in a few days. I had forgotten (or blocked out) this thing for years - it is the most awful thing you've ever seen. And I signed my name in huge letters of course. I was pregnant with one of the kids and I remember barely being able to finish it because of having to be on a ladder and getting dizzy. It is a total embaressment - right in their entryway. I just mailed out over 800 post cards advertising for portraits in my old new city - and if anyone sees my name there.... it just wouldnt be good.

My husband went to that store earlier today to pick up an answering machine and just about cringed. I tried to talk him into defacing it - just my name that is - but he said he wasn't going to go to jail for me.

I do not want to paint this over with a free mural for these folks - they hardly paid anything to begin with, but if I had to I would. I have to get at least my name off there. I'm thinking I will approach the manager and show him how far I've come...and ask permission to just paint over my name with the background color.

So - what chance do you think I have of getting my name off there? Legally, that is. ;)

Hmmm...
It might be risky to show the manager how far you've come, might make'em think it's worth something!

Don't you have any friends with some nice rascally 5 year olds that you could load up with some big 1/2 inch wide permanent markers and point them at that wall? ;)

Kim,
Go positive and honest on this one. Tell the manger what you think about this old work, show him your new capabilities (awsome), quote a slightly reduced rate to update the mural and redo it. Might as well get paid to get rid of the horror. Beats a criminal record any time.

Terri - I have to laugh because it is exactly what I was thinking. My husband says he he moved this display stand right in front of it today...so you couldnt see my name. I begged him to just scrape the last name with his fingernail, but he says there were security cameras there.

He has some 'black sheep' in the family....I keep wondering what I could hire them for. ;)

Richard - of course your right...but the last thing I want to do is a mural on that wall. ugh. They'd want some touristy scene again and it would be awhile until I could get to it.

You know - if you have an old portrait in a private home that is from an earlier time - that you regret - well, at least it's a limited amount of people who will see it. This place must have at least one thousand through that entryway every single day. They are open 24 hours for crying out loud!

I would be willing to bet that if you offered him personally a small water color as a gift, (maybe one that is already in your inventory) he'd be willing to let you take your name off the mural. When dealing with people, Dale Carnegie wrote that it is better to think about what they want, rather than what we want, and then they are more apt to list with an open mind. He adds to this a gem by Henry Ford, "If there is any one secret of success, it lies in the ability to get the other person's point of view and see things from that person's angle as well as your own."

Good luck, I'm sure he'll be open minded to an honest need.
Anthony

Perhaps there is some loop hole in the law that gives you the right to change the mural since you technically still own copyright. The change of course would be the removal of your signature. I suggest that you read up on the copyright laws http://www.copyright.gov/ . Then you can go to the manager and instead of asking for permission, tell him that as copyright owner you find it necessary to make some adjustments to the painting and then tell him what day and time you will be there. If you talk with confidence and throw a couple of legal copyright terms at him I bet your bluff will work. Then all you have to do is show up and take care of the problem.
Good Luck,
Mary

Kimberly,

I wouldn't EVEN worry about it. Let it ride. You are still young and it was a long time ago. Plus, forgive this cheeky statement, but I don't believe your "new clientele" hangs out at WalMart anyway.

....in my humble opinion,
~Gear

Just thought I'd update you all.

Within the first week I was here I popped over there and approached the manager. I explained that it was from a long time ago and my work has improved and that I didnt really care to have my name there. I showed him a small postcard with some photos on it of my recent work. He said 'no problem' to me concerning taking off my last name. Was quite simple actually.

The funny thing is - as important as this seemed to me - I have yet to get over there and do it. I think I must agree with Geary mostly. I had forgotten what a bad neighborhood this place is in. Walking around made me realize no one notices the mural anyway - and it is really a store with a lower income clientele...even for regular Walmarts. Im not bashing Walmart mind you - what better place to go for a cheap package of tube socks? But, I think Geary is right - it almost feels not worth the time to go over there and match the color to wipe the name off. I get the distinct impression not one person has ever even noticed the thing!